The Blues striker underwent groin surgery and had been hoping to be fighting fit at the end of this month.

“He’s going to be another two or three weeks,” revealed manager Alex McLeish.

“He’s had a few problems with the stiffness round about his groin.

“He’s not kicking fully through the ball yet and you can see there’s still a tentative look about him.

“He trained with the players the other day and he definitely wasn’t at full tilt, so there was no point in him joining in with the players who are at full tilt because it would hamper the level we’re trying to play at in training.

“Garry understood that. I think he’s going to rest completely for a week to see if he can come over this wee period.”